Raleigh NC

Raleigh is the capital and second largest city in North Carolina and the seat of Wake County.  The city is named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who sponsored the lost Roanoke Colony, although he never actually set foot in what is now Raleigh or even North Carolina.  Raleigh was the third state capital after Bath and New Bern, being established in 1792.  It is located roughly in the center of state in the northeastern Piedmont in the Research Triangle region, with Durham and Chapel Hill being the other points of the triangle.

Raleigh Parks:

Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve:

Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve is a small nature park in North Raleigh near Falls Lake with trails and nature education.

Capital Area Greenway:

Raleigh's Capital Area Greenway is the largest greenway system in the state with more than 100 miles of trails winding throughout the city and connects with other greenway systems in Wake Forest and Knightdale.

Durant Nature Preserve:

Durant Nature Preserve is a park in North Raleigh that was formerly a boy scout camp and features five miles of trail around two lakes.

Forest Ridge Park:

Forest Ridge Park is located on Falls Lake north of the dam and features hiking and mountain biking trails.

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve:

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve protects the upland meadow and bottomland floodplain forest in a horseshoe-bend in the Neuse River.

Lake Johnson Park and Nature Preserve:

Lake Johnson Park and Nature Preserve features a lake with trails and boat rentals near downtown and North Carolina State University.

Lake Lynn Park:

Lake Lynn Park has a community center, playgrounds, fields and a 2-mile loop around the lake in northwest Raleigh.

Shelley Lake Park:

Shelley Lake Park features the Sertoma Art Center, playgrounds and a 2-mile loop around the lake with multiple connections to the greenway network.

Other Points of Interest:

Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest:

Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest is a North Carolina State University forest that is open to the public for hiking, though bikes and dogs are prohibited.

Falls Lake:

Falls Lake is an Army Corps of Engineers reservoir and Raleigh's drinking water supply, with recreational opportunities on land and on the water.

Green Hills County Park:

Green Hills County Park is a Wake County Park in North Raleigh that was a former landfill and has been converted to a park.

North Carolina Museum of Art:

The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh has two museum buildings with permanent and rotating exhibits and is surrounded by a 164-acre park with trails and outdoor artwork.

William B. Umstead State Park:

William B. Umstead State Park is a state park nestled between Raleigh, Cary, and RDU airport with miles of hiking and multi-use trails.

External Links:

City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources website: https://raleighnc.gov/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources

Official Raleigh Tourism website: https://www.visitraleigh.com/